Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 March 2025
467. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the growing number of older people living in homes with defective concrete blocks who would like to transfer their eligibility to avail of the defective concrete block grant scheme on to their family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13993/25]
View answerThe Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) commenced on 22 June 2023 which contains the current grant scheme and the related Regulations were adopted on 29 June 2023.
Section 9 of the 2022 Act deals with Relevant Owner and Section 24 relates to a Change of Relevant Owner in specific circumstance.
The Spring 2025 Government Legislation Programme has included the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks (Amendment) Bill for priority drafting. Along with details of the wider group of relevant owners that can avail of the recent increases in the grant scheme cap and rates it will also examine a number of technical amendments and I have asked my Department to consider this matter in that context.
It should be noted that in order to assist homeowners, particularly those that are vulnerable, facilitators are available in four local authorities with information on the scheme. They use a combination of outreach efforts on an ongoing basis to create awareness about the programme and supports available, continuously researching and signposting homeowners to other resources in relation to mental health, financial support, SEAI etc.
